The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed right-hander Jonathan Broxton to a two-year contract to return to the St. Louis bullpen. Broxton, a Jet Sports client, will earn a $7.5MM guarantee and receive full no-trade protection, per reports.
Though it seems like he’s been around forever, Broxton is still just 31 years of age. And he still averages better than 94 mph on his fastball
Last year was rough in terms of bottom line results — the veteran ended with a 4.62 ERA — but that doesn’t tell the whole story. For one, Broxton’s peripherals showed that he’d been a bit unlucky leading up to a mid-season trade from the Brewers to the Cardinals. For another, Broxton produced a 2.66 earned run average over the 23 2/3 frames he logged with St. Louis.
In the aggregate, Broxton showed that he’s still plenty capable of providing valuable innings from the pen. Though his walks actually trended up in the latter part of the year, Broxton managed to strike out more than a batter per inning for the first time since way back in 2010. Then, there’s the fact that FIP (3.65), xFIP (3.24), and SIERA (3.15) all saw him as a quality producer.
St. Louis already bet on Broxton once with the mid-season trade, and now it’s doubled down after initially declining a $9MM option over the former closer. It seems likely that the veteran could have achieved a greater guarantee elsewhere, given the fact that his deal includes the kind of no-trade protection that we don’t typically see in a short-term deal (let alone one for a reliever).
But the match worked last year, and the Cards obviously felt another sturdy arm was needed in the pen. Broxton will join Jordan Walden and Seth Maness as right-handed set-up options in front of closer Trevor Rosenthal.
KMOX’s Tom Ackerman first reported (on Twitter) that the agreement was in place. Devan Fink first tweeted the contract details.
Meh. I hope we’re paying him in peanuts.
Better be a 2 year 1 million dollar deal
I’ll up the offer to buckets of chicken, but no more.
Wait did the Cardinals pay the 2 million to buy him out of his contract for 2016?
Yes, they did.They declined the 9 Mil option.
Can’t imagine why they would do this when they didn’t even include him on their postseason roster.
Maybe because they need bullpen arms because Villanueva, Cishek, Choate, Belisle, and Broxton were all free agents.
I didn’t know Choate was still pitching.
He’s a FA…doubtful we see him in Cardinal red again.
it’s a new season and you can never have enough good, experienced arms.
Must be due to all the Tim Horton’s opening up in StL.
His career line is solid with the exception of a few down seasons. He is a young veteran with above average numbers. As long as the price was low, I see this as a solid signing.
9.5 for 2 years including the buyout isn’t terrible.
why are cards fans ripping on broxton here? he pitched well for you guys
Agreed. People just like to B@$*%
Anxiety due to larger needs I suppose?
Can’t always fill needs in the order of what is needed. Cards needed arms to get to Rosenthal especially with the rotation not having the depth cards are accustomed to. Personally wouldn’t rely on Broxton as a full season setup man but with what’s out there could be a lot worse.
Yeah but was Broxton really going anywhere anytime soon?
Did anyone think Happ was going to be the first starting pitcher to sign? Or that Zimmerman would sign before Price/Greinke? Probably not. A deal could happen at any time.
I’m having a hard time remembering him getting anyone out the entire time he was on the team.
Just negatives Nancy’s. Not a bad sign in my opinion. He’s got some good giddy-up on his heater still and pitched decent for the Cards.
This is a joke, right?!?!
Big Brox is a serviceable arm, but why give him a no trade clause? Can’t count on him as an 8th inning setup guy. 7th or earlier … Not a shut down reliever. weight is a concern
Actually it was a decent move. All they did was use Lance Lynn’s insurance policy on signing Broxton for more two years. (Lynn’s salary was $7.5 MM) Basically when you include the buyout, they are paying 2 years, $2 MM.
Why the no-trade clause? That makes little sense to me.
Because he has played for 5 teams in the last 5 seasons. He’s married with 2 young children, probably tired of moving.
Probably asked for the no-trade clause in exchange for less money.
I guess that makes sense. In retrospect, Broxton could very well get over $4 million a year, so the clause takes the place of some dollars.
It’s only costing them the $7.5 mil. Birds got $3 mil from Milwaukee in the trade this past summer to cover the remaining $1 mil he was owed on his contract for 2015 and the remaining $2 mil was to cover his buyout. No one was going to pickup a 1 year option on him for $9 mil. However, 2 years for $7.5 for him sounds pretty reasonable for me.
As a Cardinals fan, I’m glad we have Broxton.He pitched well last season when he was traded to St Louis. Good move Cardinals.
As a Cubs fan. I’m glad you got him too!
And Pirates fans rejoice